Gov. Bush backs deal that allows more Gulf drilling

The plan would open 2.4 million acres of the eastern Gulf of Mexico to rigs.

October 25, 2005|By Tamara Lytle, Washington Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON -- Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday formally endorsed a measure to allow drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico but keep it about 125 miles from Florida's coast.

State Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen Castille said Bush fully supports the measure and that Florida Republican House members "for the most part" will support it. Several GOP lawmakers said they were inclined to back the deal. But Florida's two senators and a few Republicans said they will continue to fight the idea.

Details of the measure were released Monday by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., chairman of the House Resources Committee. That committee will vote on the proposal Wednesday as part of a larger budget bill.

The drilling measure:

Opens 2.4 million acres of the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling. The area, part of what is called Lease Sale 181, has been banned from leasing since Bush and other Florida lawmakers won a fight in 2001 to keep rigs out.

Pushes energy companies to swap more than 60 leases they received in the 1980s that are within 100 miles of Florida for leases 100 to 125 miles from the state.

Bans drilling in 2 million more acres of Lease Sale 181 that is 125 miles or closer to Florida's beaches. The 125-mile buffer would also include the state's Atlantic Coast.

Cancels an inventory of prospective energy resources in offshore areas.

Offers states billions in royalty incentives if they allow drilling, and requires both the governor and the Legislature to oppose drilling if they want it blocked near their shores.

"It puts the future of Florida's waters squarely in the hands of Florida's elected officials," Castille said.

Bush's support could make it harder for Florida lawmakers to block the opening of new drilling in the eastern Gulf, said Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa.

"I'm speechless," said Davis, a candidate for governor. "This is outrageous to put a provision this dramatic and harmful to Florida into a spending bill."

Environmentalists also are unhappy with the Pombo legislation. Mark Ferrulo of Florida PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) said the billions in royalties and heavy lobbying and campaign donations from energy companies might sway future state legislators to allow drilling. It "creates long-term incentives and momentum to drill in our near-shore waters," he said.

Castille said she doubts future lawmakers and governors will allow drilling within the 125-mile buffer because Florida's coastline is important to everyone, and the public "won't stand for it." The buffer provides important protections that don't have to be renewed by Congress and the president every few years, she said.

"I don't see any protection in starting to drill off the state of Florida," said Lale Mamaux, spokesman for Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, who opposes the idea. "Florida's environmental policies should not be dictated by what the oil and gas industry wants."

But Castille said hurricanes Katrina and Rita had highlighted the nation's need for energy security and increased pressure to drill. Without the Pombo bill, Florida is reliant on a patchwork of drilling bans that could be revoked as energy prices escalate and raise pressure to find more domestic oil and natural gas.

Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, said he was leaning toward voting for the bill.

"A 125-mile halo sounds pretty good to me," he said, noting the Atlantic Coast protections. Energy companies have shown no interest in drilling there yet, but Feeney said technological advances might make it appealing in the future.

Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, will support the bill, according to his staff. And staff for Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla, and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, said their bosses were favorably disposed toward it.

"I'm troubled that on the very day that yet another hurricane has torn through the Gulf of Mexico and Florida's Gulf Coast, Chairman Pombo has again introduced an offshore-drilling plan that would open Florida's coastline to the perils of offshore drilling," Mack said. "We all understand that America must find new sources of energy. But drilling off Florida's sensitive coast won't solve the nation's current energy challenges, and it won't put us on a path toward achieving energy independence."

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has complained the new drilling in Lease Sale 181 would encroach on Air Force and Navy training ranges that are important to the nation's military readiness.

The Pombo measure says the Department of Interior must consult with Pentagon officials before allowing leases in the military training area. Any disputes between the two would be settled by the president.

And Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., remains opposed to the deal. "We'd still like to be optimistic this is going to be really hard to get through," said spokeswoman Kerry Feehery.

If it passes Wednesday in the House Resources Committee, where there is strong support for drilling, it will be added to a complex budget bill that also might include tax cuts, budget cuts and drilling in Alaska's Arctic preserve. Although the budget bill is controversial, it also is crucial to Congress finishing its work for the year.

Senate Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., promised Florida's senators he will not add the offshore drilling to the Senate version of the budget bill.

But the matter might come to a House-Senate conference committee anyway later in the year. Domenici also is pushing to have the Lease Sale 181 area opened now by order of President Bush's administration.